Maharashtra tightens rules for birth, death record corrections

Maharashtra has tightened the procedure for correcting or cancelling birth and death records, making documentary verification mandatory and requiring higher-level approval for fraudulent entries. The guidelines, issued on September 4 by the state's Directorate of Health Services and Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths, specify that no registrar can cancel a record alone. Any suspected fraudulent entry must be examined at the district level and forwarded to the state Chief Registrar and Director of Health Services for approval.

The move follows complaints by former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya about alleged irregularities in delayed birth registrations at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The guidelines also bar altering original birth records for name changes, parental divorce, or address changes after registration. For corrections, the original entry remains unchanged, with amendments noted in the remarks column. All supporting documents must be attached to the register permanently.